Spectacle hearing aid



Sept. 5, 1961 N. H. HOLT ETAL SPECTACLE HEARING AID 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1956 INVENTOR5 /V0/?MAN h. HOLT ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1961 N. H. HOLT ETAL 2,999,136

SPECTACLE HEARING AID Filed Jan. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORJ' NORMAN h. HOLT BY ROGER L. ER/cKso/v 944%{MMW ,4 TTORNE vs 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N. H. HOLT ETAL SPECTACLE HEARING AID FIG 12 Sept. 5, 1961 Filed Jan. 6, 1956 0 6 M M T v 6 6 Q Q m m llllllll ll 8 2 2 w 111w}: W K m H 7 7 a 1 M m2. w J 3 G Gig 11w ENIORJ A/oR/wmv H HOLT BY R0 GER E. ER/cKso/v WWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,999,136 SPECTACLE HEARING AID Norman H. Holt and Roger E. Erickson, St. Paul, Minn, assignors to Telex, Inc, St. Paul, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Jan. 6, 1956, Ser. No. 557,717 17 Claims. ((11.179-107) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in hearing aids of a type particularly adapted for utilization by persons wearing spectacles or eyeglasses andin which a portion of the spectacle frame is used for supporting the hearing aid.

While various attempts have been made to provide hearing aids supported by and contained in spectacles, these attempts have largely been unsatisfactory since they have required extensive modification of existing spectacles or have required spectacles particularly built to support such hearing aids, are cumbersome, clumsy and inefiicient, do not unobtrusively support the hearing aid and are not readily utilizable devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a hearing aid structure which may readily be used with existing conventional spectacles (eyeglasses) and requiring very little modification thereof;

It is further an object of this invention to provide a hearing aid structure which may readily be secured to either or both of the bow pieces of spectacles and which will be unobtrusive to external attention;

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a complete hearing aid structure adapted for use with conventional spectacles, the hearingaid structure provided in a single self-contained package adaptable for mounting on one of the bows of the spectacles;

It is a further object of this invention to provide in a hearing aid a new and useful battery supporting structure, interchangeable chassis and novel unitary hearing aid structure primarily for use to be supported by spectacles;

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a spectacle bow, a hearing aid;

A further object is to provide an interchangeable hearing aid chassis which may be inserted in either a left or right housing;

A further object of this invention is to provide in a pair of spectacles a plurality of hearing aid structures, one for each ear, and means whereby the volume of each hearing aid may be individually adjusted;

Another object of this invention is. to provide new and useful hearing aid structure adapted to be mounted upon and supported by a spectacle bow providing increased sensitivity, reproduction and eliminating acoustical feedback.

The foregoing are some of the major, but by no means all of the objects of this invention, and other and further objects are inherent and will become apparent as the apparatus is described, pictured and claimed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

'- This invention will be described with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the instant invention, showing a hearing aid supported from a left ear spectacle bow, and in position upon a human head;

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Patented Sept. 5, 1961 FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a pair of the spectacles FIGURE 4 is a plan view of spectacles, similar to FIG- URE 2, but showing a binural hearing system provided by two hearing aids, one for each ear, and supported upon the spectacle bows;

FIGURE 5 is a view of a modified hearing aid of the instant invention positioned upon a human head and supported from the ear instead of by the spectacle bow;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the hearing aid of FIGURE 1 for use on the left ear, and showing in phantom view the modification used to provide a similar hearing aid for use on the right ear; 7

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged bottom plan view, partiallybroken away, of the hearing aid of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of the interchangeable chassis or circuit supporting structure removed from the hearing aid housing;

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the battery box or slide of the instant invention;

FIGURE 9A is a view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 9A-9A of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 10-10 of FIGURE 7, but with the chassis removed;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the hearing aid of FIGURES 6 and 7; and

FIGURE 12 is a similar view showing a modified form I of receiver connection.

Reference now to the drawings and specifically reference to FIGURES l and 2 shows spectacles or eyeglasses 10 of conventional construction and comprising lenses 11, and a supporting front or bridge 12 to which is pivoted at the ends a pair of temples or bows 13 and 14. Bow 13 is a right ear bow, and bow 14 is a left ear bow. Except for modification as later explained the spectacles are conventional, the ends 15 of the bow as shown by end 15 for bow'13, curling downwardly behind the ear of the wearer and slightly inwardly to conform to the contour of the head for securely retaining the spectacles thereon.

According to this invention, as will be appreciated with reference to FIGURES l-4, either one of the bows or temples 13 or 14 may be severed at a point indicated by severance line 16 for how 13, the curved portion 15 removed and the hearing aid structure secured thereto. Bow 14 is shown so severed and the hearing aid structure 20 secured thereto. The hearing aid structure'20 is provided with an integral forward hollow tubular extension 22, to receive the bow shaft of bow 14 which shaft is cemented therein to provide the unitary structure of FIG- URES l, 2 and 3. (The shaft of how 14 may likewise be clamped in extension 22 or friction fitted, as desired.) If desired the aid '29 may be used on how 14 and a corresponding aid 29A having a reversed housing may be used for bow 13 or aid 29A may be used for how 13 alone. 1 In other words, a conventional spectacle frame is moditied by removal of one or both of the downwardly curved portions 15 of the temples or bows and the end of the bow shaft then inserted in a hollow extension of the hearing aid and cemented thereto to carry the hearing aid, the hearing aid assuming the position normally occupied by the downwardly and inwardly curved bow portion to provide the complete unique spectacle hearing aid structure.

While it is stated that a conventional spectacle frame is modified, there is no intention to limit our invention to the taking of an existing pair of spectacles and so modifying them, but the term modified is used to refer to the ditference between the spectacles of this invention and a conventional pair of spectacles, i.e., the conventional spectacles are used as a frame of reference.

Since hearing aids and 20A are substantially identical, the description will proceed with reference to aid 20, it being understood that hearing aid 29A is merely rovided with a reversed housing and the difiercnce in housings will be explained.

With reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, the aid 2'9 comprises a housing 21-22 having an enlargedsubstantially rectangular component containing portion or body 21 and a tubular extension 22 of reduced cross-section, and extending at an angle with reference to body 21. Tubular extension 22 is provided with a well 23 extending as shown therein in FIGURE 6 to receive the shaft of the spectacle bow when the aid is in the position of FIGURE 1. The component containing portion or body 23. is unitary with extension 22 and tapers smoothly there-into as will be apparent from FIGURES 6 and 7, to provide a pleasing appearance. Likewise, the exterior surface 24 of body 21 forms a sort of raised plateau tapering downwardly and outwardly at the side walls 25, at end wall 26 to the back 27 of the body, and at end wall to the extension 22.

As will be seen by reference to FIGURE II, the extension 22 is positioned at the back 27 of the hearing aid and at an angle with reference to the body 21 in two directions so that body 21 when in use will extend downwardly with reference to the bow 14 as shown in FIGURE l and also inwardly with reference thereto as shown in FIGURE 2.

The front surface of the body 21 is provided with a first circular aperture 30 through which is exposed a grille 31 for the hearing aid microphone as later explained and a second aperture 32 in which is positioned a resilient washer or grommet 33 for the ear tube cap as likewise later explained.

The end 26 of the hearing aid is provided with a slot 34 extending substantially from side to side thereof as shown in FIGURE 8 for the reception of a volume control lever 35.

The back 27 of the hearing aid comprises a removable plate secured in position by a screw 36 and having a depressed tongue 37 engaging an edge of the slot 34 as shown in FIGURE 11 for retention in place. The cover 27 is mounted flush with the edges of walls 25 and 26 and with the bottom of extension 22 where it joins body 23. In use, the back cover 27 rests against the head of the user as shown in FIGURES 1-4.

The foregoing has described the housing 2122 of hearing aid 20 for use with reference to the left temple or how 14.

The housing 21A-22A for hearing aid 20A used for the right temple or bow 13 is substantially similar to the housing 21 for hearing aid 29 used for the left temple or bow 14. As shown for the hearing aid 20 in use on the left bow 14, the back 27 is adjacent the head, the tubular extension 22 positioned substantially horizontal and the body 21 extends downwardly and inwardly therefrom. Likewise, the hearing aid 20A is positioned on how 13 so that the tubular extension 22A is substantially horizontal and the body 21A positioned so that the back plate 27 is adjacent the head. For the back plate 27 to be directed inwardly in both instances the tubular extension 22A corresponding to the extension 22 must join the body 21A for hearing aid NA in opposite direction of the direction of joining of extension 22 to body 21 of hearing aid 20. This is adequately illustrated in FIG- Ul'tES 4 and 6 of the drawings, FIGURE 6 shows the tubular extension 22 for hearing aid 2t extending in one direction and (in phantom View) tubular extension 22A for hearing aid 20A extending in the opposite direction. As will be apparent with reference to FIGURES 4 and 6, the battery box 4% is usually positioned in top wall 25 but will work equally well if positioned in the bottom wall 25 and may be so used as desired.

The box, drawer or slide-it is of the configuration shown best in FIGURES 9 and 10 and when in position in the housing 21 or 21A protrudes slightly as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The protruding end 41 of the box is provided a pair of offset triangular depressions providing a finger ridge 43 so that the drawer may be readily grasped and inserted or removed from the housing. The drawer is provided with a circular aperture 44 having a lip 45 for retaining a pill-shaped battery. When the drawer is in the position of FIGURE 7 the battery is retained between the lip 45 and the spring finger 65, one Contact communicating with spring finger 65 and the other communicating with the contact 66 on plate 51. The drawer is trapizoidal in cross-section as shown in FIGURE 9A and cooperates with the corresponding configuration of the aperture in the body 21 or 21A.

The interchangeable chassis unit supporting the hearing aid circuitry is best illustrated with reference to FIGURES 8 and 11. The chassis comprises a center supporting plate 51 having various apertures, printed circuitry and circuit components thereon. A standard four stage coupled transistor circuit is used, provided with variable volume control. The particular circuitry forms no part of this invention per se and will not be described in detail. However, it comprises a number of transistors T, condensers C1--C5, resistors R1R6, microphone assembly 53 and a receiver assembly 54. The volume control 35 is conventional in that one limit position gives minimum volume, the other limit position gives maximum volume, and the intermediate positions allow selective control of the volume of the circuitry.

The microphone assembly 53 is supported from the plate 51 and positioned so that the aperture 30 directs external sound into the face of the microphone.

It is provided with a face grille 31 and a concentric resilient washer 29 circumscribing the face grille, which washer 29 seats against the underside of wall 24 to minimize the volume of the air cavity leading to the microphone diaphragm and hence to avoid resonance.

The receiver assembly 54 is provided with a shock mounting comprising two resilient coverings 54A and 54B, covering 54A providing a rubber dish for receiving the bottom of the cylindrical receiver assembly and through which the connections penetrate and cover 54A cooperating therewith and provided with the integral grommet or washer 33 which penetrates the aperture 32 and serves to seal the receiver assembly 54 to the aperture and to the body 21.

The cap 56 of the external sound tube 57 has an outside diameter such as to provide frictional engagement with the inside diameter of the grommet or washer 33 and to slip over the hollow extension 58 of the receiver.

There is thus provided an internal receiver assembly 54 leading to a tubular conduit 57 for piping sound to the hearing aid ear piece or ear cushion 59, the washer or grommet 33 in cooperation with cap 56, serving to provide an acoustic seal to prevent leakage of sound from the receiver assembly 54 from going back into the microphone assembly 53 and causing acoustic feedback.

Housing 54A-54B provides a good shock mount to prc-.

vent mechanical vibrations from receiver assembly 54 from coupling back to the circuit plate or chassis 51 and microphone assembly 53. Thus, no effort is made to shock mount the microphone 53 itself, rather the receiver 54 is isolated by means of the shock mounts 54A--5- .B and the acoustic seal provided by cap 56 and grommet 33 in order to prevent feedback.

In the modified form shown in FIGURE 12, the internal receiver assembly 54 is replaced by a pin-jack receptacle 60 in which the pins 61 of jack 62 are inserted, the ear piece 59A in this instance constituting an external receiver connected to the circuitry by the jack 62 and lead 57A.

As shown in FIGURE 11 the chassis unit 50 is held in position in the container 20 by a screw 63, in this instance threaded into a plug embedded in the synthetic resinous material of the container 20. The screw 63 also serves to anchor one end of the resilient battery mount 64 the other end of which is fixedly anchored to the plate 51. The mount 64 comprises a central spring finger 65 having an outwardly turned end and slightly depressed so as to resiliently engage any batterycarried by the battery box 40. As will be seen by reference to FIGURES 8, 9 and 10, when the battery box is in position, the resilient finger 65 will securely engage one of the terminals, the other terminal being engaged by the contact 66 on plate 51.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a spectacle hearing aid, in which the hearing aid component is supported upon either one or both of the bows 13 and 14 of the spectacles by clipping ofi the downwardly turned portion 15 of one of the bows and cementing the bow shaft in the tubular socket extension of the hearing aid. There is thus provided a complete hearingaid on one bow (or on two bows if two hearing aids are used) all contained in one package and following the normal slope of the terminal end of a bow to be unobtrusively positioned behind the ear of the wearer.

In the event that two hearing aid units are used, there is provided a binaural hearing effect in which the amplification of each can be individually adjusted to each ear to provide optimum binural hearing.

The amplifier structure of the hearing aid is a symmetrical unit which can be inserted into either a left or right housing and the hearing aid receiver may be either of the external or internal type. Where the hearing aid receiver is mounted on the chassis 50 together with the microphone assembly 53 as shown in FIGURE 11, it is shock mounted in the grommet 33 of plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin or rubber sealing it to the container and preventing acoustic feedback. Where an external receiver is used, the pin-jack connects it to the circuitry as shown in FIGURE 12. In either event the connector whether it be 57 or 57A may be readily separated from the housing for removal of the chassis 50.

The microphone assembly 53 is positioned at the bottom of the container 20 on its outwardly dispose-d surface to provide maximum pickup and such positioning has been found markedly superior to any other positioning. It is mounted so that it will press directly against the underside of portion 24 of the container with the rubber wafer 29 therebetween to minimize the volume of the air cavity leading to the microphone diaphragm and hence to avoid resonance. Any resonance in the sound channel or cavity will be at such high frequency as not to be troublesome in the audio range being amplified.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 5, the aid 20B is similar to aid 20A except that the lead 57 is cemented to the end of the tubular extension 22B, and, curling around the ear, serves to retain the hearing aid in place. In this modification the aid may be utilized without the spectacle frame as desired.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of this invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hearing aid, an elongated hollow housing which is longitudinally curved to conform generally to the back of the ear of the hum-an wearer, said housing containing therein a microphone, an electrical amplifier, a power source, and a receiver assembly, an ear piece remote from the housing for insertion in the ear of the wearer, and a tubular sound conduit connecting the receiver to the ear piece and adapted to extend over the ear of the wearer to suspend the housing directly and solely from the ear.

2. A hearing aid comprising, a hollow casing, an input transducer mounted in the casing and responsive to acoustic energy, an amplifier contained within the casing and coupled to the input transducer, an output transducer contained within the casing and coupled to the-amplifier, and a means for suspending the casing directly from the ear in position to the rear thereof, said means consisting of a tubular sound conduit connected to the casing for carrying acoustic energy from the output transducer to the auditory canal.

3. The combination comprising an elongated receptacle, hollow within, and having a generally smooth surface adapted to engage a small elongated area of the head of a human wearer, said area extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper portions of the junction line between the ear of the human wearer and the human wearers head, said receptacle containing therein a microphone, an electrical amplifier, power source and control therefor, a sound reproducer connected to said amplifier and having a sound delivery portion connected to and terminating remotely from the receptacle and in the ear of the wearer, said receptacle being shaped so as to be connectable mechanically to a substantially straight ternple piece of a wearable head frame having a portion extending forwardly along the head of the wearer and joined to a front face portion of the head frame.

4. The combination comprising an elongated receptacle, hollow within, and having a generally smooth surface adapted to engage a small elongated area of the head of a human wearer, said area extending rearwardly and downwardly from the upper portion of the junction line between the ear of the human wearer and the human wearers head, said receptacle containing therein a microphone, an electrical amplifier, power source and control there-for, a sound reproducer connected to said amplifier and having a sound delivery portion connected to and terminating remotely from the receptacle and in the ear of the wearer, said receptacle having a small integral projection at one end extending at an angle to the length of the receptacle and from and at an angle to one end of that smooth portion which is adapted to engage the wearers head, said projection being axially tubular for a portion of its length from its terminal end back toward said receptacle for receiving a rod-like frame element socketed firmly therein.

5. In a hearing aid, the improvement comprising an elongated housing having a front wall including a first and a second aperture, a chassis comprising a flat plate positioned within said housing and located centrally thereof, said jchassis supporting on one side thereof a microphone assembly adapted for register with said first aperture and a receiver assembly adapted for register with said second aperture, said receiver assembly being provided with a resilient covering, said resilient covering including an extending tubular portion having a central aperture and said tubular portion being in resilient abutment with the interior diameter of said second aperture.

6. The structure of claim 5 further characterized by a hollow conduit having at one end an ear piece and at the other end a tubular means adapted to be positioned within said extending tubular portion, the outside diameter of said tubular means cooperating with the inside diameter of said tubular portion.

7. A hearing aid housing comprising an extension and a substantially rectangular body portion, said substantially rectangular body portion providing front and back surfaces and side surfaces and end surfaces, said back surface including a removable plate and said extension having a cross-section of reduced width and secured to said body portion at one end wall and adjacent said removable plate.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said other end wall is provided with an aperture, and a volume control lever is positioned within said body portion and extends through said aperture.

9. The structure of claim 7 in which said front wall is provided with a first aperture positioned adjacent the juncture of said body portion with said extension and adapted to receive means 'for connecting an ear piece to said housing.

10. The structure of claim 7 in which a jack means is positioned Within said body portion and cooperates with said aperture for the reception of a jack therein.

11. The structure of claim 9 further characterized in that an internal receiver is positioned within said body and having resilient means sealing the same to said ape-rture, said resilient means adapted to receive the end of a tubular member for communicating sound from said receiver.

12. The structure of claim 7 in which an aperture is positioned on said front wall and adjacent its juncture with the extending end wall of said body portion and a microphone assembly positioned interior of said housing and disposed to receive audio impulses through said aperture.

13. A hearing aid housing comprising an extension and a substantially rectangular body portion, said substantially rectangular body portion providing front and back walls, side walls, and end walls, said back surface including a removable plate and said extension having a cross-section of reduced width and secured to said body portion at one end wall and adjacent said removable plate, one of said side walls being provided with an aperture, a battery slide positioned within said housing and extending from said aperture, said battery slide adapted to contain a battery and adapted to be removed to said side wall.

14. In a hearing aid, the improvement comprising an elongated housing having a front wall including a first and second aperture, a chassis comprising a fiat plate positioned within said housing and located centrally thereof, said chassis supporting on one side thereof a microphone assembly adapted for register with said first aperture and a receiver assembly adaptedfor register with said second aperture, said housing being provided with a side wall having an aperture therein, a resilient battery clamp supported on the chassis on the side opposite to stud receiver assembly, and a battery slide positioned within said aperture for holding a battery, whereby said battery may be retained in position by said battery clamp.

15. In a hearing aid, the improvement comprising an elongated housing having a front wall including a first and second aperture, a chassis comprising a fiat plate positioned within said housing and located centrally thereof, said chassis supporting on one side thereof a microphone assembly adapted for register with said first aperture and a receiver assembly adapted for register with said second aperture, said housing being provided with a side wall having an aperture therein, a resilient battery clamp supported on the chassis on the side opposite to said receiver assembly clamp, and a battery slide positioned within said aperture for holding a battery, whereby said battery may be retained in position by said battery clamp, a volume control positioned on the same side as said chassis as said battery clamp, said pivotable lever having one end extending through an elongated recess in said housing.

16. A hearing air comprising a frame having a front face portion shaped to extend across the face of the wear er and rest upon the nose bridge and left and right solid temple pieces free from hollow portions connected to and extending rearwardly from said front face portion along the temples of the wearer to the ears of the wearer, said left and right temple pieces each including a rear termination shaped to extend along the head of the wearer and downwardly along those portions of the wearers head behind the ears, at least one of said terminations comprising an elongated receptacle constructed as a separate piece and mechanically connected to its temple piece, said receptacle including a hollow interior and having a generally smooth head engaging surface, a hearing aid comprising a microphone, amplifier and power source mounted as a unit in the hollow interior of said receptacle and a sound reproducer connected to the amplifier so as to be energized thereby, said sound reproducer havmg a sound delivery port connected to a wearable sound delivery element positioned in the ear of the wearer remote from the receptacle.

17. The hearing aid specified in claim 16 further characterized in that each of said temple pieces has its termination constructed in the form of elongated receptacles separate from the temple piece, means connecting the receptacle to a temple piece, said receptacle having a separate and complete hearing aid as specified in claim 7 contained therein.

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ears in Ashe abovemnumbered pat- It is hereby certified that error app I entrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent shauldread as "corrected below.

(3011111111 v lifle 26 for the claim reference numeral -""Z" Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1962.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID L, mm

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

